Covetous - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-01-16T15:53:04Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: move from asmo's page

2024-12-27T21:54:36Z

move from asmo's page

Umbire the Phantom: potholes

2024-12-10T01:33:06Z

potholes

Umbire the Phantom: some copyedit

2024-05-08T19:09:43Z

some copyedit

Darth l33t: /* Movement */ reason a covetous monster might not warp

2023-08-15T16:29:06Z

‎Movement: reason a covetous monster might not warp

Darth l33t: /* Coveted items */ single link for a more compact table

2023-06-23T13:32:04Z

‎Coveted items: single link for a more compact table

Cathartes: /* Strategy */ diagonal attacks can outrange the flee distance

2023-06-23T05:56:55Z

‎Strategy: diagonal attacks can outrange the flee distance

Cathartes: /* Strategy */ graphical radius of escape/defensive item use

2023-06-06T01:45:13Z

‎Strategy: graphical radius of escape/defensive item use

Cathartes: /* Movement */ covetous fast healing

2023-06-06T01:14:32Z

‎Movement: covetous fast healing

Cathartes: /* Strategy */ note 3.7 changes; ranged attacks

2022-06-11T21:57:36Z

‎Strategy: note 3.7 changes; ranged attacks

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 While other monsters covet your quest artifact and the invocation items, only the Wizard of Yendor and your quest nemesis can actually steal them. On one out of twenty hits, this attack tries, in order, to steal first any quest artifact, then the Amulet, the Bell of Opening, the Book of the Dead, and finally, the Candelabrum of Invocation.{{refsrc|mhitu.c|1329}}{{reffunc|steal.c|stealamulet}} The attack will only ever steal one item, and always tries to steal items in this order, regardless of what items the monster covets. The [[Rogue]] quest leader, the [[Master of Thieves]], is also capable of stealing covetable items should he be angered, since he is also the [[Tourist]] quest nemesis.
-Interestingly, monsters that are not the Wizard can be fooled by "fake" items. That is, if you have both the real Amulet and a [[Cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor|fake amulet]], or if you have both the [[Bell of Opening]] and a normal [[bell]], a monster trying to steal the artifact may in fact steal the fake.{{refsrc|steal.c|498}} Specifically, they will steal whichever item comes first alphabetically in your inventory, so you can arrange for the monster to always steal the fake item this way. This is rarely useful; the Wizard specifically cannot be faked out in such a manner, and the only other monster with an amulet-stealing attack is your quest nemesis.  Since your quest nemesis always starts with the Bell of Opening, and you can't get the Amulet until you have it, the opportunity for this situation will almost never arise. The one exception might be those who choose to steal the Bell from their quest nemesis through polyself into a [[nymph]]; they might want to carry a normal bell to prevent their quest nemesis from stealing the Bell of Opening back, as unlike the quest artifact, the Bell cannot be bagged.
+Interestingly, monsters that are not the Wizard can be fooled by "fake" items. That is, if you have both the real Amulet and a [[Cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor|fake amulet]], or if you have both the [[Bell of Opening]] and a normal [[bell]], a monster trying to steal the artifact may in fact steal the fake.{{refsrc|steal.c|498}} Specifically, they will steal whichever item comes first alphabetically in your inventory, so you can arrange for the monster to always steal the fake item this way. This is rarely useful; the Wizard specifically cannot be faked out in such a manner, and the only other monster with an amulet-stealing attack is your quest nemesis.  Since your quest nemesis always starts with the Bell of Opening, and you can't get the Amulet until you have it, the opportunity for this situation will almost never arise. The one exception might be those who choose to steal the Bell from their quest nemesis through polyself into a [[Nymph (monster class)|nymph]]; they might want to carry a normal bell to prevent their quest nemesis from stealing the Bell of Opening back, as unlike the quest artifact, the Bell cannot be bagged.
 ==Strategy==

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 ==Source code==
 Covetous monsters are defined by one of the following flags in [[monst.c]]: '''M3_WANTSARTI''', '''M3_WANTSCAND''', '''M3_WANTSBOOK''', '''M3_WANTSAMUL''', or '''M3_COVETOUS'''.
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 ==History==
 Prior to [[NetHack 3.6.1]], the Wizard of Yendor did not covet the quest artifacts of other roles, only your own.  Also, both quest nemeses and the Wizard could not steal quest artifacts of other roles, and prioritized stealing the Amulet before your quest artifact.

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 |[[Candelabrum of Invocation]] || [[Vlad the Impaler]], Wizard of Yendor
 |-
-|[[Book of the Dead]] || [[Orcus]], [[Lich|master lich]]es, [[Lich|arch-lich]]es, Wizard of Yendor
+|[[Book of the Dead]] || [[Orcus]], [[master lich]]es, [[arch-lich]]es, Wizard of Yendor
 |-
 |[[Amulet of Yendor]] || [[Demon lords and princes]], Wizard of Yendor
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ===Other monsters===
 Covetous monsters prioritize obtaining their coveted items over any other task, including attacking the player character. A covetous monster will attack a monster who happens to hold the item they covet. The item-stealing attack itself has no effect in monster-on-monster combat, so the attacker will have to kill their target to get the item. However, covetousness will never induce a monster to attack the [[high priest]] of Moloch or the [[Wizard of Yendor]].
 ===Taming===
+Covetous monsters cannot be made into pets directly by any means, but a hero can obtain a tamed master lich or arch-lich by either taming a lich and letting it [[grow up]], or by polymorphing another pet. The Wizard of Yendor and all quest nemeses cannot even be made [[peaceful]].
 ==Amulet-stealing attack==
 While other monsters covet your quest artifact and the invocation items, only the Wizard of Yendor and your quest nemesis can actually steal them. On one out of twenty hits, this attack tries, in order, to steal first any quest artifact, then the Amulet, the Bell of Opening, the Book of the Dead, and finally, the Candelabrum of Invocation.{{refsrc|mhitu.c|1329}}{{reffunc|steal.c|stealamulet}} The attack will only ever steal one item, and always tries to steal items in this order, regardless of what items the monster covets. The [[Rogue]] quest leader, the [[Master of Thieves]], is also capable of stealing covetable items should he be angered, since he is also the [[Tourist]] quest nemesis.

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-A '''covetous''' monster is one who desires one or more [[unique item]]s or [[quest artifact]]s. Covetous monsters have a distinctive movement pattern which involves constantly warping to and from the up staircase (or to the down staircase while in upward-progressing branches), and they will attack any monster carrying an item they covet (except for the [[high priest|high priest of Moloch]] and the [[Wizard of Yendor]]). Covetous monsters will pick their desired items up off the ground, whether it is you or a dying monster that drops them.
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', a '''covetous''' [[monster]] is a monster that desires one or more [[unique item]]s and/or [[quest artifact]]s. Covetous monsters have a distinctive movement pattern which involves constantly warping to and from the up staircase (or to the down staircase while in upward-progressing branches), and they will attack any monster carrying an item they covet (except for the [[high priest]] of [[Moloch]] and the [[Wizard of Yendor]]). Covetous monsters will pick their desired items up off the ground, regardless of who drops the item.
 Some covetous monsters also possess an attack which enables them to steal coveted items from your [[inventory]]. Quest artifacts can be protected by stashing them in a container. There is no defense against this theft for items in your main inventory; this is especially troublesome if your only source of [[magic resistance]] is your quest artifact, and it means that the unique items will always be vulnerable, since they cannot be stashed.
 ==Coveted items==
 The following items are coveted by various monsters:
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 ==Behavior==
 Covetous monsters behave quite differently from lesser denizens of the dungeon, owing both to their generally powerful natures and their insatiable desires for their respective items.
 ===Movement===
+When a covetous monster wants to attack, they simply appear adjacent to you, or as close as they can get if there is no open space next to you. This type of teleportation (often informally described as "warping") is not prevented on [[non-teleport level]]s. Covetous monsters only warp when they would move normally: a covetous monster that has a [[ranged attack]], such as a [[breath]] weapon or a [[wand]], and can hit your position may elect to stand in place and use the ranged attack instead; for example [[Juiblex]] has an acid spit attack that he uses if a character is in range (though he is slow enough that this is rarely seen).
 A damaged covetous monster will warp to the up [[stairs]] to heal. The damage does not need to be critical; even a few HP lost will send them fleeing. If the covetous monster is in an upward-progressing branch ([[Sokoban]], [[Vlad's Tower]], or the [[Wizard's Tower]]), they will instead teleport to the staircase or ladder down. While healing, the monster may occasionally appear for a quick attack or two before returning to the stairs. They will not resume a sustained assault until fully healed. Covetous monsters trying to heal will gain d8 HP per monster action if they are not within a Euclidean distance of 8 tiles from you.{{refsrc|src/wizard.c|391|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=The comment says "cast healing spells", but non-spellcasters heal this way too.}}

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 ===Movement===
-When a covetous monster wants to attack, they simply appear adjacent to you, or as close as they can get if there is no open space next to you. This type of teleportation (often informally described as "warping") is not prevented on [[non-teleport level]]s.
+When a covetous monster wants to attack, they simply appear adjacent to you, or as close as they can get if there is no open space next to you. This type of teleportation (often informally described as "warping") is not prevented on [[non-teleport level]]s. Covetous monsters only warp when they would otherwise have moved -- if the monster has a wand or ranged attack that can hit your position, it may elect to stand in place and assault you from a distance. This is the only way you're likely to see [[Juiblex]]'s acid spit attack, for example.
 A damaged covetous monster will warp to the up [[stairs]] to heal. The damage does not need to be critical; even a few HP lost will send them fleeing. If the covetous monster is in an upward-progressing branch ([[Sokoban]], [[Vlad's Tower]], or the [[Wizard's Tower]]), they will instead teleport to the staircase or ladder down. While healing, the monster may occasionally appear for a quick attack or two before returning to the stairs. They will not resume a sustained assault until fully healed. Covetous monsters trying to heal will gain d8 HP per monster action if they are not within a Euclidean distance of 8 tiles from you.{{refsrc|src/wizard.c|391|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=The comment says "cast healing spells", but non-spellcasters heal this way too.}}

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 {{float right|{{circleradiussquared6|r=25}}}}
-Monsters will not flee through the stairs or use any other [[defensive item]]s if you are more than 5 squares Euclidean distance away from them.  If there is enough space on the level, you can stand more than 5 squares from the stairs and use [[ranged attack]]s to kill a covetous monster that is standing on the stairs. The diagram to the right shows the locations relative to you that a monster will attempt escape or defensive item use from.
+Monsters will not flee through the stairs or use any other [[defensive item]]s if you are more than 5 squares Euclidean distance away from them. If there is enough space on the level, you can stand more than 5 squares from the stairs and use [[ranged attack]]s to kill a covetous monster that is standing on the stairs. The diagram to the right shows the locations relative to you that a monster will attempt escape or defensive item use from. Note that lining up ''diagonally'' from the stairs effectively gives you greater range, since movement and the range of most attacks are not based on Euclidean distance. Thus, you can stand 4 squares diagonally from the stairs and still prevent monsters from using the stairs&mdash;this is especially useful for [[aklys]] users.
 ==Source code==

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 ==Strategy==
 Because they flee at the slightest scratch, are much more mobile than most players, and are invariably high-level and so have a lot of hit points, covetous monsters can be very frustrating to deal with. The easiest option, if you have [[teleport control]], is to teleport to the up stairs before the monster does. If you have a [[scroll of scare monster]] to spare, drop it, and you can safely dispatch the monster when they follow. If not, you have at least cut off their escape route and forced them to fight you to the death.
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 Many covetous monsters are generated [[meditating]]. If you wake them while standing on the stairs, they will teleport to you but be blocked from escaping. This is most reliably done by quaffing a cursed [[potion of invisibility]], or by allowing a hostile spellcaster to cast the [[aggravate]] spell. This method will not affect the [[Wizard of Yendor]] from outside his tower.
 ==Source code==